Proof that [[SturgeonsLaw the remaining 10% is worth grabbin' pillz for here.]]

These are recommendations made by Tropers for ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Administrivia/ConversationInTheMainPage though; that goes in the discussion page. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into sexually explicit or [[BetterThanCanon non-canon]] territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, {{Shipping}} is SeriousBusiness.

!General Fics''Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.''

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4820246/1/bWhatever_b_bDays_b_bMay_b_bCome_b Whatever Days May Come]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/496886/WildArm WildArm]]* Recommended by: zoeymoe, @/REV6Pilot* Status: Complete* Synopsis: Bill Overbeck endured the jungles of Vietnam. He endured his retirement from service. And now, he is going to have to endure Hell on earth. He was always a leader, and although his new squad may not be what he's used to, he'll have to make do. The events of the Left 4 Dead Campaigns mostly in Bill's perspective.* Tags: Horror, Suspense* ''Comments:'' This fic is one of the rare gems, because it is well written. The author gives more depth to the characters.** @/REV6Pilot: Another thing that makes this a gem among mounds of dirt is that it's exactly the game if it had cutscenes... and without the gameplay quirks. The zombies are still attracted to light and sound, but are really quite rare, which you would expect from an ensemble that tries its hardest to be stealthy, sneaks around depopulated areas, and doesn't have an AI Director breathing down their necks. The start deviates from canon a little bit, since it was written before the releases of the Crash Course DLC and the Sacrifice comic, but the version presented in the fic is still solid gold.

[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5984812/1/Two-Step Two Step]] by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1586803/Disrupted-Original Disrupted Original]]* Recommended by: gRough, @/REV6Pilot, @/{{Randomfanboy}}, and @/KrisMahai* Status: Complete* Synopsis: At least twice a day he would trace a finger over the faded highways that stretched over the map in his hands. Every step he took could very well be in the wrong direction, but he had to take it. He had to find them. Nick loses an eye and gets separated from the others when their cruise ship sinks, and goes on alone to find them.* Tags: Tragedy, Friendship, Language, violence, adult situations, Original characters, No pairings,* ''Comments:'' Has a TV Tropes page [[FanFic/TwoStep here.]]* One of the few Left 4 Dead fics that I actually recommend. Well written and a great place for anyone not particularly knowledgeable in the series to start. Author gets a big thumbs up from me.** Same from [[@/REV6Pilot me]]. This is probably the best Left 4 Dead fanfic out there - well-written, great CharacterDevelopment, and no linearity to the plot - believe me, you can't guess what'll happen next, especially because the author pulls no punches about either characters, settings or [[YouKeepUsingThatWord "vampires"]]. You'll laugh, cry and jump at the edge of your seat sometimes, but mostly you'll be glued to your seat, frozen in anticipation.** Agreed. It's addictively readable - I couldn't stop. I tell you what [[spoiler: if Nick doesn't meet up with the others, I will be very upset. And it looks like that's a possibility.]]

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5146736/1/Cat_and_Mouse Cat and Mouse]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1452449/randomfox randomfox]]* Recommended by: Kamakazikid8, seconded by Dark Gidora* Status: Complete* Synopsis: Cats toy with their prey before killing them. When a Hunter sees Zoey as prey, will she live long enough to escape before he is finished toying with her?* Tags: Horror, Suspense* Comments: Excellently written. It easily shows Zoey's acquired fear of the Hunter while it sadistically toys with her. On the other side, it gives us a look into the Hunter's mind and shows us why and how far it will go to keep chasing it's prey.** ''Second Opinion'': Very, very well done. Randomfox manages to [[ItCanThink give the Hunter a personality and intelligence]] without diminishing the creature's menace. Zoey's growing fear of the Hunter, her fellow survivors' reactions to it, and it's sadism are believable and interesting elements. As their mutual character development occurs, the fic approaches an epic climax. Good action scenes ensure this as a great fic.

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6461693/1/Bills_Ultimate_Adventure Bill's Ultimate Adventure]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2359217/KoopaEater KoopaEater]]* Recommended by: JakAttack* Status: Dead: Last update: 2010* Synopsis: As Bill smokes his last cigarette, looking at the oncoming tanks, he smirks. For he knows that this is no ordinary cigarette: it's a magic cigarette. No, Bill doesn't die; he lives, and defeats the tanks in a truly hilarious way.* Tags: Crack, humor* Comments: It's a crack fic, and boy does it handle that well. There's no real plot, the spelling's good except for when it's intentionally messed up, but with too many "gritty dirt realism" stories, it's nice to see a fanfic that exists purely to make you laugh.

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4784956/1/bJust_b_bLike_b_the_bMovies_b Just Like the Movies]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/19506/Wutruffbeest Wutruffbeest]]* Recommended by: zcohen723, @/PurplePeopleEater* Status: Complete* Synopsis: A story largely from Zoey's perspective as she experiences the zombie apocalypse.* Pairing(s): Zoey/Francis* Tags: Adventure* Comments: A very well done fic of Blood Harvest that adds more meat to the original story. Zoe provides drama and comic relief with her pop-culture references as she tries to cope, such as this little gem here regarding her chances of survival "After all, she hadn't drank, hadn't smoked pot, and definitely hadn't had sex. That meant she'd at least make it to the end of the movie unscathed. Right?"

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5709445/1/bApex_b Apex]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2217753/P-Chill-Now P Chill Now]]* Recommended by: ShoddopEatYourBurgers* Status: Complete* Synopsis: A tale of a hunter's journey from the hunter's perspective. Offers a glimpse into the thoughts and emotion of one of the infected.* Pairing(s): Hunter/Witch* Tags: Horror, Romance, Tragedy* Comments: Very unique and very interesting. The hunter's thoughts are like those of an amnesiac, and his view of the world is naive and childlike. It is admittedly difficult to understand at times, and the fight scenes are rather anticlimactic. However, the author does a good job of making you care about the hunter and his companion, the romance is interesting and the ending... Read to find out.

[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4901593/1/The-Misadventures-of-a-curious-Hunter The Misadventures of a Curious Hunter]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1614651/CrazyChibiSama Crazychibisama]]* Recommended by: the dragonchick* Status: Dormant: Last update: 2014* Synopsis: An unusually curious (and [[ItCanThink intelligent]]) hunter decides to follow the team of the original Left 4 Dead. Shenanigans ensue.* Tags: Humor/Drama* ''Comments:'' The character development is quite fascinating, and while the author deviates from the canon story a fair amount, she still manages to keep it dramatic and interesting. Warning: It's very addictive!

!Alternate Universe''Alternative Universe. The characters are written into a different world/universe than the one they are typically from.''

[[http://respectawoman.livejournal.com/ Respect A Woman]] by Zarla, Jazzaboo, et al* Recommended by: SnarkTron, Seconded by JiaMekare* Status: Ongoing* Synopsis: Respect A Woman is a shared fan-Universe (by (among others, including anyone who wants to join in) Zarla and Jazaaboo.) focusing primarily on gender-swapped versions of four of the special infected: Hunter the GenkiGirl, Smoker the DeadpanSnarker, LaughingMad Jockey and Charger the TeamMom. Together, they try to survive in the post-zombie apocalypse world.* Comments: Has a TV Tropes page [[FanFic/RespectAWoman here.]]* Tags: AU* Comments: In addition to this main universe there are side-stories focusing on Hunter and Smoker's friendship (and sometimes more) before the apocalypse struck and a Cowboy AU of an AU in which Smoker and Hunter are outlaws and Jockey and Charger work on a ranch.

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8521272/1/Left-2-Die-Infected Left 2 Die: Infected]] by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2564790/moviebuffgirl movie buff girl]]* Recommended by: [=PotatOS=]* Status: Complete* Synopsis: "Humans aren't the only ones who need to survive." The Green Flu outbreak has torn families apart. Nick has been separated from Julie, his 12-year old daughter, who has been Infected with the Witch strain. She, along with three other Special Infected, travel to New Orleans, where Julie hopes to reunite with her dad.* Tags: Family, Adventure* Comments: As I'm terrible to give a synopsis without spoiling half of the story, the plot runs around Nick, his daughter (which needs an operation due to being diabetic and turn into a witch), and how Julie (his kid, now in witch form) decides to go all the way from a city (probably in New England, can't remember now) to Savannah in search of her father. When she is unable, she follows him through every place where the campaigns take place. To do so, she teams up with a Hunter named Vance, a Smoker named Carter and a Jockey named Adrian. Ignoring how much of a sucker for Tear-Jerker moments I am, the author gives a ton of character development for the infected and you actually feel like you're cheering for the infected. So far, Dark Carnival has been completed.

"[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanFic/BlindMansBluff Blind Man's Bluff]]" by ladyredms* Recommended by: DeenieDore* Status: DEAD* Synopsis: Essentially, this story explores a type of AU where, instead of doing a play-by-play of the campaigns, is a more realistic take on the Left 4 Dead 2 survivors' adventures during the zombie apocalypse. My synopsis doesn't really do it justice though, it's a really long, remarkable epic of these characters and their lives.* Pairings: Nick/Ellis* Comments: Presumably had more chapters but I could only find 22 which can be read [[https://www.wattpad.com/4864033-blind-man%27s-bluff-chapter-1 here.]]** This is one of the best fanfics I've ever read in my entire life. No, seriously. This story is a long, sprawling epic filled with snappy dialogue, in-character interactions, and definite and plausible character development. And, unlike many Nellis fics, this author includes Coach and Rochelle as IMPORTANT CHARACTERS. And while the Nellis is present and sweet, it doesn't dominate the plot, which is actually very long and extremely entertaining. It even illustrates and highlights some of the more ignored aspects of each character, such as Rochelle's sassiness and level-headed personality and the fact that Ellis has, you know, brains. I'm neither eloquent or articulate enough to describe just how amazing this story is. You should read it and find out for yourself. It now has it's own page!

!Shipping''Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.''

[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5683492/1/Let_the_Devil_In Let The Devil In]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/753061/archy-the-cockroach Archy The Cockroach]]* Recommended by: TheTallOne, and {{@/generalwinter}}* Status: Complete* Pairing(s): Nick/Ellis, Rochelle/Ellis* Synopsis: Four survivors. A journey through hell, hope and fear.* Tags: Friendship, Romance, sex, gore* Comments: One of the best VideoGame/Left4Dead2 fics I've read.** Seconded without hesitation by [[{{@/generalwinter}} me]]. This is, quite honestly, not only the best [[VideoGame/Left4Dead L4D]] fic I've read, but also one of the best pieces of fic I've read in any fandom, to date. I don't care whether you ship the pairings here, this is damn good writing. And, really, it manages to make both pairings believable, while not fawning all over them endlessly, or forgetting that Coach is there, too. Wonderfully in-character, beautifully written...yeah, I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys this game.

[[http://games.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600085824 PLAYTHING]] by [[http://members.adult-fanfiction.org/profile.php?no=1296863807 mihoyonagi]]* Recommended by: fenrir7139* Status: Complete* Synopsis: Thrown from the third story of an office building, Zoey finds herself hurt, low on ammo, and alone. That is, until a wayward and strangely intelligent hunter decides he wants her all for his own...* Tags: Angst, Romance, NSFW* Comments: WARNING: NSFW! With that out of the way, don't be fooled by the site it's on; the story is well-written, and can be quite a tear-jerker.

[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6203723/1/It-Starts-With-Desperation It Starts With Desperation]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2177397/CleverDucky CleverDucky]]* Recommended by: Sophiebybophie* Status: Complete* Pairing(s): OC/Hunter* Synopsis: You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.* Tags: Adventure, Romance, NSFW, Abuse* Comments: I highly recommended this for the way the writer CleverDucky write how Michael's (the OC) and the Hunters relationship develop from [[Main/FoeYay Enemies to Lovers]].

''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfexEAExzhk Who's Cooking Tonight?]]'', by Raikujo* Recommended by {{Tropers/Vessel}}, @/REV6Pilot* ''Comments:'' Coach is trying to get Nick to make him some dinner, Nick refuses, and a fight of epic proportions ensues. Now with more Francis, Rochelle, and Ellis!

''[[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL43F2A42F3DE6E43E&feature=plcp Tasty Cools]]'', by seibmoz* Recommended by @/PurplePeopleEater* ''Comments:'' What started as a silly windows movie maker short of Coach dancing with food has gracefully evolved into several minute long episodes featuring his cannibalistic pursuit of Nick & co. It manages to be hilarious while also featuring amazing machinima work that can easily lend itself to dramatic looking moments.

!Webcomics

[[http://isismasshiro.deviantart.com/gallery/12530718 Left 4 Dead Comics]] by [=IsisMasshiro=]* Recommended by {{Tropers/KingSonnDeeDoo}}* ''Comments:'' Well-drawn and amusing, these comics mainly focus on the Infected, with the artist steadly making a comic-cross-info sheet for each. Oh, and be sure to look out for the oft-cameoing [[VideoGame/HalfLife Headcrab]]! There are occasional typos and gramatical errors (the artist is Finnish), and a word of adivce in that the text can be bit small at times, so you may need to choose 'Download Image' near the Artist's comment.** Seconded. These comics are so funny that they are 100 percent responsible for me actually buying the game.*** I third this. From the Hunter and his reactions that are like a cat to the Gentleman Tank that BREAKES THROUGH THE FREAKING SAFEHOUSE DOOR in search for A CUP OF TEA, any kind of humor is there. It's just awesome.